SP minister asks BJP MLA to "shut up" in UP assembly, scuffle follows

Lucknow, Sept 20: A scuffle broke out in the Uttar Pradesh assembly on Friday after a state minister asked a legislator to "shut up" following a squabble over the recent riots in Muzaffarnagar that killed 50 people dead.

Samajwadi Party (SP) minister Ambika Chowdhury and BJP MLA Upendra Tewari got engaged in an argument during which the former asked the latter to shut up. At this, BJP MLAs put up a violent protest in front of the Speaker and soon it was a free-for-all scenario.

BJP leaders, including Uma Bharati, have accused the Akhilesh Yadav government of targetting party members while letting the responsible SP leaders go free. Bharati also warned the state government of dire consequences if any BJP member was arrested. Two BJP MLAs face arrest while names of two others feature in FIRs. But the BJP supporters shielded the accused members and forced the police to return empty-handed.